"We're seeing better direct access, we're seeing some new routes opening up, we're seeing some new events coming in and that's very important for us.

"Most of all I think we're seeing much better partnership amongst the industry, the industry's really grasping the nettle, working harder together and that's the future."

English market

And Scotland seems to bucking the trend, as domestic tourism in the UK overall has fallen.

John Lennon, from Glasgow Caledonian University's Moffat Centre for tourism and business, thinks there is great potential.

"Realistically you have to look to be a hero in your own back yard," he said.

"The Scottish and English market are there - they're waiting to be tapped into, 48 million English people not very far to the south of us, with budget airlinks and a reasonable road network into the country."